After last week’s stinker, this one was much better. Not the best ever, but pretty, pretty, pretty good.
It does seem that Larry is running out of ideas somewhat. The baldness joke was out of Seinfeld, as was the refusing the pie.
The Rosie O’Donnell fight was the funniest thing she’s done in years. And the Denise Handicap and Wendy Wheelchair chase was awesome. Plus Leon was featured prominently, which is always a plus.
I am kind of disappointed that the reunion story has hardly warranted a mention for the past two weeks, but it’s back next week, thank God.
This last episode was just so-so for me because the ending was so predictable. Also sticking the beach scene in the middle to lose LD’s cellphone was just too convenient for me. Last week’s episode, The Hot Towel, had a greater Seinfeld feel.
This episode was great at showcasing the social hangups and overcompensating that goes on when people interact with the handicapped. This was the first time I’ve seen a make out session with a disabled person portrayed so awkwardly, and honestly. Larry David is one of the few people in Hollywood that isn’t afraid to treat disabled people like grownups, and not precious virginal babies. I applaud him for that.
That said, the restaurant scene was a bit unrealistic. There are a few places where they let wheelchairs cut ahead in line, but certainly not restaurants. I’ve also never gotten any free food or VIP treatment. In fact, restaurants are one of the social venues where I’m treated the worst. Waiters will often ask my table mates if I need a menu, refuse to address me when they take my order, and make an overly huge production out of selecting an accommodating table. I made a BBQ Pit topic about this a while back. Strangely, the more classy the place, the worse it is. I’ve never had this problem at Denny’s.
Yes, this episode was far better than last week’s bomb.
Thank you, Carnick, for your input on the wheelchair in a restaurant comments. I do know that, here in Vegas, people in wheelchairs do get to go to the head of the line in buffets, but doubt that is the case in more upscale restaurants.
However, as long as you are commenting - was Larry out of line for asking that woman in a wheelchair, in the same neighborhood, if she knew the other woman? I mean, come on - wouldn’t she at least be somewhat aware that there was another woman in a wheelchair in the neighborhood? They might never have ever spoken with each other, but you would think she could have at least said, “Yeah, there is a woman in a wheelchair who lives down that way…” As Larry mentioned to Leon, if there were only two black guys living in the neighborhood, they might not be buddies, but most likely would know where the other one lived.
Rosie was great in this episode - hope she returns again, as she is the perfect foil for Larry and doesn’t put up with his bullshit and actually will beat him up.
One of the most contrived episodes that I’ve seen. Maybe LD needs to arrange a CYE original writers’ reunion first. As someone commented in an earlier thread, this season, LD has developed a mean streak and also a greater inhibition of civility than before. No way would even LD fixate on his PDA more than rescuing someone drowning.
P.S. Is CYE suffering from some production problems or what? When Jeff & Susie set out to walk, the sun’s on the left. When LD eyes the girl in the water, the sun’s on the right. Not a subtle difference at all.
Good to see the show bounce back from that disastrous previous episode. The funniest scenes for me were between David and O’Donnell, and with Leon. Seems obvious Leon is oddly still staying at Larry’s house just because of the comic potential. “I brung it!”
On the other hand there are still signs the show may be running out of gas. Personally I’m not inclined to laugh at someone prioritizing BlackBerry security over a drowning child. And in addition to the examples in the original post at top, dating a woman in a wheelchair is also an idea recycled from Seinfeld.
I agree that the LD character is getting further and further off the reservation, and I will repeat what I said in another thread – both the character and the show need Cheryl back ASAP! LD needs her as an anchor to reality and CYE needs her as a straight man.
I get that they’re trying to explore some of the comic possibilities around Larry being loosed into the dating world. However, as others have said, he already beat that horse to death on Seinfeld. And Larry and Cheryl just work well together on screen.
At least this week’s episode was pretty flat-out funny, though, which I can’t say for the previous offering.
maybe it is just me, but I thought this episode was another clunker… the Blackberry survival thing was a ridiculous as it being thrown in the water, the double wheelchair dates, the treatment of handicapped in public and during sex…the satire didn’t work for me…